Discharger for pyrotechnic cartridges



Aug. 25, 1936. s. WILEY DISCHARGER FOR PYROTECHNIC CARTRIDGES Filed March 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventnr Eamuel Wile 4AL1CIYTLE I I l I ll T I I l l [I- h 1111 l l li--- S. WILEY DISCHARGER FOR PYROTEGHNIC CARTRIDGES Aug. 25, 1936.

Filed March 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I l I I I I I I n I .r. 5 FM Ww/E v M w H .1 .A WE m w m 5 Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE msonanenn FOR PYROTECHNIC CARTRIDGES (Granted under the act of March 3. 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may; be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

- This invention relates to a discharger for pyrotechnic cartridges.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a discharger which is capable of firing a large cartridge carrying a heavy propellant charge and which may be conveniently mounted on the side wall of aircraft.

Other objects are to provide a novel means for mounting a barrel in a frame and for locking the barrel in various positions of angular adjustment.

. With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention;

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation and partly in section of the improved discharger.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the barrel in firing position.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the barrel with a firing pin in retracted position.

. position.

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of the wall of the aircraft.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the discharger of Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 the discharger comprises a barrel 5 having its rear end closed by a breech 8 wihch is attached to the barrel by the threaded connection I. The breech 6 is formed with a conical projection 8 for centering a cartridge (not shown) carrying its own propelling charge.

A reduced stem 9 on the breech and coaxial with the barrel houses a firing pin I whose point II is adapted to pass through an aperture [2 in the conical projection 8. A lever l3 pivotally mounted on a pin 14 carried by ears l-l5 on the stem extends through an aperture IS in the stem and has its inner end disposed in a slot I! in the firing pin. A lanyard I8 is attached to the outer end of the lever and serves to rotate the lever and drive the firing pin forward. The extremity of the stem 9 is provided with a pair of trunnions |9--|9.

A frame for mounting the barrel consists of a bottom plate 20, side plates 2l-2l and relatively short front and back plates respectively 22 and 23. The side plates are formed with opposite guideways or channels 24-24 on their inner faces. The channels are open at the upper edge of the side plates and are closed adjacent the bottom plate. This arrangement provides for entry of the trunnions l9 between the plates and the closed ends constitute bearings or seats for the trunnions as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

One of the trunnions is provided with a wheel or annular head 25 positioned between the side plates and having peripheral notches or recesses 26 for receiving a beveled lug 21 on a detent 28. The detent is pivotally mounted on a pin 29 carried by ears 3U--3ll fast on the back plate 23. A spring 3| acting on the detent normally moves it towards the back plate and causes the lug 21 to project through an aperture 32 in the back plate and into one of the recesses 26.

As shown in Fig. 2 when the lug 21 is engaged in the center recess the barrel is parallel to the frame. When the lug is engaged in the end recesses the stem of the barrel rests on and is additionally supported by the front or back plate as indicated in Figs. 4 and 8.

Referring to Figs. '7 to the discharger is installed on a vertical wall 33 and is supported in any suitable manner, as by the bracket 34. The wall 33, for example, may be the body of an aircraft. The wall is provided with an opening 35 through which the barrel may be moved as shown in Fig. 8. The opening is normally closed by a panel 36 mounted on spring-actuated hinges 31.

When the discharger is not in use it is carried in a vertical position parallel to the wall 33 as seen in Fig. 7. In order to load the discharger from the inside of the aircraft it is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 and a cartridge is dropped into the muzzle of the barrel. The firing pin it) is in the retracted position due to the action of gravity. The barrel is then pushed through the opening 35 in the wall 33 and locked in the position shown in full lines thebarrel due to a misfire or to a decision not to fire, the barrelis grasped by the hand and pulled upwardly. This action automatically disengages v the detent-J28 and causes the trunnions I9 to -ride upwardly in the channels 24 of the side plates I;

The barrel is then tilted either outwardly or in wardly as indicated in dotted lines '1 apd thecartridge falls out of the barrel. Upon lowers ing the barrel until the trunnions are seated in the bottom of the channels 24 the lug -21 on the" detent reengages' in one og the 'regesses 23 holds the barrelin place.

While the discharger is illustrated as mounted on a wall 33 it is to be understood that it may I the side plates and extending above the seats of the g'uidewaya'a barrel including a reduced stem be carried by any suitable support. 7

-I claim:

'1'. In a discharger; a frameincludingspaced side. plates, the inside face of each plate having a guideway open at the upper edge of the plate and providing a seat adjacent, the bottom of the plate, a front plate andia back plate connecting the side plates and extend-ingabove the seats of the guide- Ways, abarrel including a reduced stem having trunnions adapted to ride in the guideways and be: supported on the seats thereof, an annular head on one trunnion provided with a series of peripheral recesses, a detent'carried by the back plate andsele'ctively' engageable in the recesses to hold theb'arrel in position or angular adjustment; and the stem oi the barrel engageable with the front or back plate when the' detent is in the end recesses.

' 2, In adischarger, a' frame including spaced side plates, the'inside face of each plate having a guideway open at the upper edge of the plate and providing a seat adjacent the bottom of the plate, a front plate and a back plate connecting the side plates, a barrel including a reduced stem having trunnions adapted to ride in the guideways and be supported on the seat thereof, an an ul hea o one t unnion. rovi ed wi h a series of peripheral recesses, a detent carried by the back plate and selectively engageable in the recesses to hold the barrel in position of angular adjustment, and the stem of the barrel engage- ;algle with the front or back plate when the detent is the end recesses.

3. In a discharger, a frame including spaced side plates, the e face of each plate having a guideway open at the upper edge of the plate and providing a seat adjacent the bottom of the plate, a trgnt plateand a back plate connecting having-:trunnions' adaptedto ride in the guideways and be supported-on the seats thereof, an annular head'on one trunnion provided with a series of peripheral recesses, a detent carried byJthe back plate; and'sel'ectively engage'able'in therecesses to hold the barrel in position of angular adjust ment.

4. A support having trunnion seats, barrel holdingmeans oarr-i'edlby the support adjacent the seats a barrel having trunnions engaging the seats when in firing position and held by the holding; means, and vertical trunnion guideways in the support above the seats for receiving the trunnion "W'hen' the barrel is raised mm" engagement with the holding means for the purpose of being tilted an amount greaterthan that perrnitteel by the; holding means,

' SAMUEL WILEY; 

